Accepting the fact that I’d be getting a new ride this season it was time to decide on what bike was for me. Should I get a Cervélo R3? They’re sexy, and Canadian, and highly regarded. Or perhaps stick with Specialized and get a Tarmac SL3? An upgrade to the Tarmac I currently ride. Or something more a little more exotic like a Pinarello or Willier?

While all of these bikes are terrific none of them really made me want them. And the staff at the stores I visited/contacted didn’t do anything to change this (aside from the guys at Gears… but the bike still didn’t do it.) This changed when I checked out Vitess – a new manufacturer of performance road bikes with a showroom located in my ‘hood of South Etobicoke.

I exchanged a number of emails with Julien (the founder and face of Vitess) and learned a lot about the company and their plans before ever visiting the showroom and seeing the product in person. But once inside the showroom the decision was pretty much made that this would be my new bike. Their bikes are definitely not flashy – not covered in graphics with wicked paint schemes. But they look good. And fast. Just what I wanted.

A few weeks later my bike arrived and we scheduled my fitting session – a three-hour intensive session conducted by Fitt 1st at the Vitess showroom – where every part of the bike is adjusted and tweaked to ensure the perfect fit. During my session it was discovered that I need a narrower handlebar than originally thought, and than what I ordered. Not a problem! Julien swapped out the ordered bar with a bar of the correct width and ordered in the carbon bar I originally ordered at the correct size. The next week I returned and we made the swap again – adjusting the fit perfectly before sending me on my way.

With the last six bike purchases none of the stores every followed up with me to see how I was enjoying my purchase; to see if I had any questions or needed to make any changes. Vitess did – and have stayed true to their commitment of being rider-centric in all aspects of their operation.

Now… regardless of the customer service and rider-focus the bike needs to be a star on the road – and it is. From the minute I got on the saddle and clicked in I new that this was going to be a fun season of riding. And through the first two-plus months of riding this has proved true. After the first 500k of riding here are my thoughts on this terrific bicycle:

• I’m fast. Noticeably faster than previous years. Subtracting the placebo effect of thinking I’m faster because of my new bike, I’m still faster. And my riding partners have all taken note.

• The bike is much stiffer than my Tarmac. This is most noticeable when I switch get out of the saddle and hammer it for a sprint.

• The fit is perfect. I’ve had my previous bikes fit to me but not like this. My comfort level is much higher than I thought possible on a high performance bike – and my endurance is better as my body doesn’t fatigue from holding a position.

Don’t mistake me for some errant fanboy – I like this bike but I’m not blindly tossing out compliments and ignoring the shortcomings… it’s just that for me, there aren’t any. I’ve ridden this bike harder and faster than my previous bikes and it has performed when the others have failed. The only comparison I haven’t made yet is on the roads of France… but trust me I am working on convincing Leah that we should go again!

If you’re in the market for a high performance road bike be sure to give Vitess a call!

Consider this my notice to all the other riders along Lakeshore: this summer I’m going to be fast.

Vitess – A new manufacturer of high end road bikes recently opened a showroom in our neighbourhood and they’ve got me wanting. Bad. So what’s a guy to do? Have a garage sale!

I’m selling the following goodies:
Bike: Specialized Tarmac Expert: $2700.
Camera Lens: Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 EX DC Macro HSM for Nikon: $450.
Audio Gear: Church Audio CA-14 Omni + CA-14 Cardioid mics and a custom four channel battery box: $550.
Speakers: PSB Image 2B pair: $200.
CD Player: Yamaha CDC-675 5-disc changer: $125.
PlayStation2: PS2, Two controllers, Two memory cards, Madden 2004, The Getaway, Medal Of Honor Frontline, NFL Street ,Max Payne, NHL 2003, Gran Turismo 3 A-Spec ,Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003 ,Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Metal Gear Solid 2 (Sons Of Liberty), NBA Street Volume 2: $120.

If you’re willing and able to support me in my ride, please visit my page at conquercancer.ca/goto/chrisandleah and make a donation. Tax receipts will be issued.

I’ve been training regularly, and this weekend marks the launch of my advanced training schedule – rides of at least 50km each weekend day, increasing each week leading up to the Ride, and regular morning and evening sprint rides.

And check out our new Team TwinPro jersey!!

It’s perfect for commuting, fitness training or touring.

From Specialized.com:
More and more, riders are getting serious about leaving the car behind and commuting by bike, or finding themselves seeking a source of fitness in their own urban or suburban environment. Reducing your ecological footprint, outpacing cars in rush hour, and feeling energized are all prominent motivators for many city riders.

At home among potholes and pedestrians, alert for traffic and turn signals, these paved environments demand a bike that performs with reliability, puts the rider in a position to easily look around, and has geometry and features like flat handlebars that make it easy to maneuver around obstacles. Every Sirrus model was built with these goals in mind, made to be ideal for any city or neighborhood environment.

• Specialized A1 Premium Aluminum frame with rack and fender braze-ons
• Specialized Sport fork with Cr-Mo steerer and legs
• Body Geometry Comfort II triple density gel grips
• Shimano Sora rear derailleur and convenient Easy Fire shifters
• Specialized New Nimbus 700x28c tires with Flak Jacket flat protection
• Alloy suspension seat post
• Body Geometry New Milano Comfort Max saddle

Details from official Specialized site.

I’ll be participating in a 2-day major cycling event called The Ride to Conquer Cancer benefiting The Princess Margaret, one of the top 5 cancer research hospitals in the world.

I’ll be cycling over 200 kilometres that weekend, from Toronto to Niagara Falls, with thousands of other Riders. All the proceeds will go to The Princess Margaret to support cancer research, treatment, and services. The Princess Margaret is Canada’s leading comprehensive institution devoted to cancer research and care, and the work they’re doing is leading-edge.

I’ve agreed to raise at least $2,500, but I’ve set my personal goal to $5,000. So here’s where you come in, because I need your help to do that. Could you please consider making a donation? Use the link at the bottom of this post to go visit my webpage, and please take the time to support me. Please keep in mind the commitment I’m making to end this heartbreaking disease and the personal efforts I’ll have to make to accomplish this.

When I say “heartbreaking,” here’s what I mean: In 1987, when I was 10, my father was diagnosed with Cancer. He died three months later. Earlier this year my father-in-law lost his battle with Cancer. That’s why I’m riding. To do something BIG about cancer. I hope that you’ll share this incredible adventure with me by supporting me in my fundraising efforts.

Thank you in advance for your generosity!

My page: http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/chrisandleah

Sincerely,

Chris